A Thorough Exploration in Historiography / Shitong

Liu Zhiji author Victor Cunrui Xiong translator Michael Nylan editor Andrew Plaks editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:University of Washington Press

Published:13th Jun '23

Should be back in stock very soon

A Thorough Exploration in Historiography / Shitong cover

The definitive translation of a masterpiece in ancient Chinese historiography

In the early eighth century, frustrated with the authorities but still hoping to gain immortality through his future oeuvre, the Tang court historian Liu Zhiji set out to write Shitong, in which he would rigorously explore the tradition of historical writing in China. Liu scrutinized hundreds of texts from antiquity to the early Tang dynasty (618–907) and evaluated their authors according to what he deemed the three essential qualities for historians: talent, knowledge, and insight. Shitong is now generally considered the greatest work of traditional Chinese historiography. It preserves precious information on a host of lost ancient and medieval titles while advancing a critical view on history writing. This first translation of the work into a Western language provides textual criticism and annotation for the historical figures, events, and allusions that are crucial to appreciating the work, making it a must-read for students of historiography East and West.

"Monumental. . . For scholars of East Asian religions, the Shǐtōng is a fabulous gateway to ancient Chinese (Confucian) historiographical thinking."

* Religious Studies Revi

ISBN: 9780295751061

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 63mm

Weight: 1610g

1104 pages